Agriculture

Photo: Linda Johansson

Agriculture
is a major source of nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea, contributing to
over 70-90% of nitrogen and 60-80% of phosphorus diffuse and almost half of total waterborne inputs to the
sea. Diffuse loading makes reducing nutrient loads from agriculture more complicated than simply cutting loads from point sources. There is also a considerable time lag between the implementation of measures and visible effects in water bodies. Agriculture is one of the core areas of HELCOM operations. The major reductions of nutrient inputs from farming as well as introduction of measures to curtail phosphorus and nitrogen losses are both stipulated in the Baltic Sea Action Plan​.